Sealed Air Names Three Student Finalists
In Second Annual Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors
Young Inventors to Head to New York City for Celebratory Weekend,
Followed by Grand Prize Winner Announcement on Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J., January 7, 2008 - The crowning of America's next young inventor is drawing nearer, as Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE), the creator of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning, today announced the three student finalists in the second annual, nationwide Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors. The three finalists selected from around the country, and listed in no particular order, are:
o Max Wallack, 11, Natick, MA - "Carpal Cushion" - An eighth-grader at the Advanced Math and Science Academy, Max used Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning to create an adjustable wrist cushion designed to help alleviate and prevent the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome experienced by computer users, as well as agricultural and manufacturing workers in foreign and developing nations.
o Hannah Haas, 13, Charlotte, NC - "Sensory Wallpaper" - A home-schooled eighth-grader who used Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning to create a wallpaper designed to stimulate and engage children afflicted with autism through the combination of a textured bubble surface containing large and small bubbles, and a calming, blue wallpaper background.
o Nicolette Mann, 13, Christiansburg, VA - "Transformable Bubble Wrap® Kite" - A home-schooled eighth-grader who used Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning to create a single kit that enables the easy assembly of multiple flying kites by providing detailed instructions on how to construct different formations, shapes and styles.
"The innovation, ingenuity and spirited design of the student inventions submitted in this year's Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors has been nothing short of spectacular, and we're delighted at how this program continues to motivate young children to tap into their creative and inventive talents," stated William V. Hickey, Sealed Air's President and Chief Executive Officer. "The wide range of high-caliber entries made the judges' job of narrowing down the field even more daunting than last year, but these three inventions really stood out for their impressive creativity, usefulness and benefit to society. We congratulate both the students and their mentors, and look forward to celebrating our three finalists in New York City later this month."
As the three finalists, Max, Hannah and Nicolette will be flown along with a family member to New York City, where the Grand Prize Winner and runner-ups will be announced on Bubble Wrap® Appreciation Day (January 28, 2008).
During their visit to New York, the finalists will enjoy an exclusive tour of Sealed Air's main Bubble Wrap® manufacturing plant in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Later that evening, they will travel into Manhattan to see the award-winning, international smash sensation STOMP, where, as special guests of the producers, they will be treated to a special backstage meeting with the cast members. A unique combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy, STOMP has created its own inimitable, contemporary form of rhythmic expression: both household and industrial objects find new life as musical instruments in the hands of an idiosyncratic band of body percussionists. The finalists' Big Apple weekend will then culminate with a special dinner awards celebration at New York's famous Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center.
The Grand Prize Winner will receive a $10,000 U.S. savings bond, while the second and third place winners will each receive $5,000 and $3,000 U.S. savings bonds, respectively as well as a special gift bag courtesy of OfficeMax® Incorporated. The remaining 12 semi-finalists will each receive a $500 U.S. savings bond.
About the Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors
The Bubble Wrap® Competition for Young Inventors encourages U.S. students in grades 5 through 8 to demonstrate their creativity and ingenuity by designing an invention that incorporates the use of Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning. Students were invited to submit original inventions along with a visual and written description that included the name of the invention, the purpose it serves, how it works and how the idea was formulated.
This year's competition attracted more than 1400 entries, nearly twice the number submitted last year, with entries ranging from a Bubble Wrap® wheel chair cushion and protective car door cover, to a collapsible plant shelter and shock-absorbing dance floor. Submissions were judged in coordination with the National Museum of Education and ranked based on several criteria including originality, creativity, practicality, benefit to society, marketability and feasibility, as well as overall presentation.
About Bubble Wrap® Brand Cushioning
Bubble Wrap® cushioning was invented by Sealed Air's founders in 1960 and was originally intended to be used as a type of textured wallpaper. The inventors quickly realized it was actually a superior cushioning material, and Sealed Air is now a global, Fortune 500 company that offers a wide range of packaging solutions, has operations in 51 countries and has annual sales in excess of $4 billion. Sealed Air is widely recognized for its strong commitment to innovation, and continues to be an industry leader in research and development. For additional information on Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning and the competition, visit www.bubblewrap.com.
About Sealed Air Corporation
Sealed Air is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of a wide range of packaging and performance-based materials and equipment systems that serve food, medical, and an array of industrial and consumer applications. For more than half a century, Sealed Air employees have applied deep understanding of customers' businesses and global trends to deliver sustainable packaging solutions. Operating in 51 countries, Sealed Air's widely recognized and respected brands include Bubble Wrap® cushioning, Cryovac® food packaging technologies, Jiffy® protective mailers and Instapak® foam-in-place systems. For more information about Sealed Air, please visit the Company's web site at www.sealedair.com.
